SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — With temperatures expected to plunge into dangerously low territory tonight, officials in Lackawanna County are activating emergency shelter services across Scranton — including opening Weston Field House for the first time this season.
The Lackawanna County Emergency Management Agency, the City of Scranton, and Catholic Social Services announced Thursday that Weston Field House on Providence Road will open its doors at 7:30 p.m. to provide overnight refuge from the extreme cold. The facility can hold up to 50 people and will continue to operate during overnight hours whenever a Code Blue Frigid Weather Alert is in effect.
Additional emergency shelter options remain available throughout the city. St. Anthony’s Haven on Olive Street offers overnight accommodations from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m., while the Community Intervention Center on North 6th Avenue provides daytime shelter from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., staying open longer if weather conditions require.
A Code Blue alert issued earlier this week remains in place through Monday morning, December 8, prompting local agencies to increase capacity and ensure residents have safe, warm places to stay.
Officials urge anyone without proper heating or shelter to seek assistance immediately, stressing that the combination of wind and subzero wind chills can pose life-threatening risks in a short period of time.